The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-24
The Blue Hens Chickens.
FROM the Arkansa,o Traveller.

"a The Blue Hens Chickens.
From the Arkaasa,c Traveller.
.sWall, fur mercy's sake, look thar, pap, +"
said a woman, dressed in faded calico and
dim ginRhap.
The old fellow stopped and the woman
pointed at q lot of colored eggs which had
been leftover from Easter, and which the
grocer had temptingly arranged in front of
Look thar Che woman repeated, point
aThey are & new Wrinkle on my hon, !"
said the old fellow, taking up one of the
eggs and Examining II "These here" he
added, addressing the grocer who ap-
preached, muster been laid by one Nv the
blue hens chickens naIiI ~
'eThey are direct descendants from the old
blue hen sure enough the grocer replied,
who showed an accommodating weakness to
tell lie, either through courtesy or with an
eye to business.
"You don't say So"
eyes, sir, and l bought them for Mr.
Garland, who sent me word some time ago
to get him few if possibly could"
'Wall, Gus ought to know what good
chickens air.''
F'He undoubtedly does"
"Wall, I've heard about the old blue hens
chickens all my life, but this is the fust time
l ever seed any Nv the aigs"
'They are not very plentiful now," said
the grocer. "In fact, they are bought up
by the agents of monopolies and sent North
for the use of rich railroad men"
1.-THE chickens, reckon, lay over the
common run of fowls"
.'As much, sir, as day lays over night"
'What special advantage have they gotH'
"Well, they lay three times day, for one
thing"
"Now, look here, you don't mean that"
81 reckon he do, pap" the woman de-
clared. II know in reason that he do, fur
Aunt Caroline Welsh that had some in
Moth Kliny, told me jest befo' she died that
they wuz the outlayenist things she ever
seed, an says she
'Everline, do blieve that the aigs is
fresher than the aigs Nv these here common
chickens.'n
''She was right" said the grocer. 'Mr.
Garland tells me that the eggs will keep for
years without spelling, but" he added,
laughingly, IF he don't mind he will find
that they don't keep so well after all, for if
he doesntcome after them pretty soon I'll sell
them A business man can't afford to let
his money lie idle, you know"
''That's a fact" the farmer replied.
'Now, whut mout they be wuthN
"Well, l hardly know. Where do you
liver"
ION Saline river, about two days ride
from here"
''Do you come to town very oftens"
"Fust time wuz ever here.
81 thought that if you came to townvery
often might engage you to bring me lot
of the chickens when they hatch. Tell you
/ what I'll do. I'll let you have all six of them
for 60c."
"Ain't that putty heavy priceW
ooh No nan said the woman HJPStj
think NV chickens that lay aigs-fresh ones
at that-three times day"
'All right said the old fellow, hauling
out the toe of an old sock and shaking a few
dimes from it; ''I'll take 'em. Shore they'll
hatchW
Hatch! Why you can cover them UP
with an old straw hat and they'll hatch.
Much obhge. Well, call again"
When the grocer went back into the
store he slapped himself, laughed uproari-
ously and then said:
1T NAV be wrong to cheat this way, but
don't believe that we are called npon to
have sympathy for such ignorant people
and. besides, honest old farmer as he looks,
he'd cheat me in a minute if he COULD"
Several weeks later an old fellow drove
I'D to grocery store and asked man who
came out to the curbstone If he wanted to
buy any guinea chickens.
"Fresh as they ken be an already cleaned, u
said the old fellow.
"What do you ask for themN
"Well, don't know what they air with.
You see the air mighty big ones"
Eyes, l see. How many have you got?"
Fifteen
''There is not much sale for guineas."
''They oughter be wuth loo. a piece,
oughtent they"
The grocer, with shrewd hesitancy, re-
piled:
II don't know. Well, drive round to the
back door and put them out"
Immediately after receiving his money
the old fellow drove down town, and, with a
woman who seemed to be his wife, was
standing on a street corner, when the
grocer who had bought the guineas rushed
up and exclaimed:
''You are lying old wolf, that's what you
are!"
"Whut's the matter?"
"You sold me lot of buzzards, you old
wretch. and I'm going to have you arrested
if you don't give me back my money. One
of my best customers bought one and then,
discovering what it was, struck me over the
head with it and then left the store"
"Why, pap, that was too bad, wasn't its''
| said the woman.
~ recognize you, now" said the grocer,
| stepping back
'Yas," said the old fellow, ''an'--but
don't be in hurry. Didn't know the blue
hens chickens when you seed 'em, eh9 wy,
/ thought you know'd all about the breed
Say, whenever you want more, jest let me
know. They lay three times a day, you
know, but I'm sorry that the chickens
amt as fresh as the aigs. When you come
out my way, drap in to see me-"
Mrs. Benedict's Rat Trap.
From the Saten, Nelos